By Sonny Iroche PG-AI (Oxon)
Introduction
Throughout human history, transformative technologies have been greeted with a mixture of awe, excitement, and fear. From the invention of the printing press to the Industrial Revolution, from the telephone to the internet, skeptics have often voiced concerns that innovation runs contrary to divine will or threatens the social and moral order. Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) finds itself at a similar crossroads; heralded as the most transformative and disruptive force of our era, yet burdened with suspicion by conspiracy theorists and those fearful of the change and the unknown.
The notion that AI is inherently “anti-God” or a tool of doom is not just misinformed but also dismissive of the profound good AI is already bringing into the world. In this article, written as one who had undertaken the study of AI at the post graduate level at the University of Oxford- a leading global academic and research institution in AI,
I argue that AI, far from opposing God’s plan for humanity, is an extension of human ingenuity, a divine gift for stewardship, healing, development, productivity, and progress. Like every tool, its moral valence lies not in the technology itself, but in the hands that wield it.
The Biblical Mandate of Stewardship and Human Ingenuity
At the heart of many religious traditions, particularly in Abrahamic faiths, is the belief that human beings are created in God’s image, endowed with the capacity to think, create, build, and steward the Earth. In the book of Genesis, man is instructed to “fill the Earth and subdue it, and have dominion over every living thing” (Genesis 1:28). This dominion is not a license to exploit, but a sacred trust to develop and govern creation responsibly.
AI, when viewed through this lens, is a fulfillment of this creative mandate. It is an extension of our God-given abilities, a modern-day tool like the plough, the microscope, aero plane, or the satellite — enabling us to understand, interpret, and manage the world more effectively. To oppose AI on the grounds that it is “unnatural” or “godless” is to deny the divine in our own God-given capacity for reason, invention, and compassion.
The Real-World Benefits of AI: A Force for Healing and Hope
1. Healthcare Revolution and Drug Discovery
Few areas have seen as profound an AI impact as healthcare. AI systems today are accelerating drug discovery, shortening timelines from decades to mere months. AlphaFold, a breakthrough AI developed by DeepMind, a subsidiary of Google,has predicted the 3D structures of over 200 million proteins, a major breakthrough in protein folding, for scientists battling diseases from cancer to Alzheimer’s.
AI-enabled tools are now being used to:
• Diagnose cancers earlier and with greater precision.
• Develop personalized treatment plans.
• Identify potential cures for rare or previously incurable diseases.
Would any of these conspiracy theorists and skeptics facing a terminal illness like pancreatic or any cancer refuse an AI-discovered drug that could extend their life or even save it? Would a parent watch their child or grandchild suffer from sickle cell anemia and reject a cure because it was developed by an algorithm?
These are not hypothetical questions. AI-based solutions are already changing lives in Nigeria, Africa, and across the globe. To turn our backs on such progress out of fear is not a mark of wisdom but of perilous ignorance.
2. Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship
AI is rapidly becoming a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. It helps governments and scientists model carbon emissions, predict extreme weather events, optimize energy use, and design smarter cities. AI-driven innovations in agriculture allow farmers to predict crop yields, conserve water, and protect biodiversity.
Are these not consistent with our duty to “care for the Earth” as instructed in Genesis 2:15?
3. Education and the Democratization of Knowledge
AI has broken down barriers in education. Adaptive learning platforms can now tailor content to a child’s pace and style of learning. Tools like ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs), provide students — from Lagos to Johannesburg to London, with access to quality explanations, mentorship, and tutoring, regardless of socioeconomic status.
In countries where education is often stifled by poor infrastructure or lack of qualified teachers, AI offers an opportunity to bridge that gap and empower millions with knowledge. What could be more aligned with the divine call to “let light shine out of darkness” than helping humanity learn, grow, and flourish?
4. Agriculture, Food Security, and Ending Hunger
AI is enabling precision farming that maximizes yields while minimizing environmental impact. In sub-Saharan Africa, AI-based platforms are already helping smallholder farmers predict rainfall patterns, detect crop diseases, and access real-time market prices. These technologies are not replacing divine providence, but are magnifying it through innovation and action.
5. Disability Inclusion and Empowerment
AI-powered prosthetics, speech recognition, and brain-computer interfaces are helping people with disabilities live fuller, more independent lives. Is it ungodly to give a paralyzed man the ability to walk again? Or a blind child the means to navigate their school with AI-powered tools?
If anything, this is the epitome of human compassion made possible through God-given intelligence.
AI Is Not Infallible — But Neither Are We
Yes, AI has risks; like any powerful tool. But those risks, like the tragic misuse of airplanes on 9/11, do not define the essence or purpose of the technology. Should we therefore ban all air travel because terrorists once used planes as weapons? Should we reject the internet because it can spread fake news or hate speech?
The airplane brought families closer, shrank the world, and enabled trade, tourism, and rescue missions. The internet brought access to education, remote work, and global communication. Every great innovation, from nuclear energy to smartphones, has had its skeptics, its dangers, and its doubters.
The appropriate response is not to banish the tool but to govern it, through ethics, laws, education, and human conscience. As we say in the AI world: Human-In-The-Loop. And that is exactly what global AI communities, governments, and institutions are doing today: working toward responsible, ethical AI that reflects human values and safeguards against harm.
What Do the Conspiracy Theorists Really Fear?
Much of the fear surrounding AI is not about AI itself, but about change. Conspiracy theorists often project their anxieties about power, control, and the unknown onto new technologies. These fears are magnified by science fiction, ignorance, and misinformation, especially in societies where education on digital literacy and technophobia still exist.
Some even go so far as to claim AI is the “mark of the beast,” a modern-day Tower of Babel, or an effort to “play God.” But these claims crumble under scrutiny. Were similar fears not expressed when electricity was introduced, as an unnatural force? When vaccines were first developed, as instruments of foreign control? When television emerged; as the “devil’s box”?
We must recognize these for what they are: echoes of past and deep-seated ignorance, wrapped in new clothing. The future does not belong to fear. It belongs to faith in human agency, critical thinking, creativity, divine providence, and the better angels of our nature.
If human development was left to some of such skeptics and conspiracy theorists, man would probably still be living in caves and hunting for food in the wild.
Ethical and Responsible AI: Our Collective Duty
As with any tool, the morality of AI lies in its usage. It is entirely up to us; governments, companies, civil societies, and citizens to ensure that AI is used for good. That is why the global conversation around AI ethics is so crucial.
In Nigeria, for example, the newly launched National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2024–2025) is built around seven ethical principles, including fairness, transparency, accountability, and inclusion. The strategy explicitly highlights the need to build AI systems that serve humanity, promote dignity, and enhance well-being. UNESCO, the UN, and the African Union are similarly creating frameworks that align AI with human rights and development goals.
Far from being godless, these principles echo the values enshrined in all major faiths: compassion, justice, humility, and stewardship.
Faith and Technology Are Not Opposites
Let us remember: God has always worked through human agents. Moses had a staff, David had a sling, Jesus taught with parables, and Paul wrote letters that were preserved and spread using Roman roads. If God could use the tools of the time to reach hearts, why can’t we, in today’s world, use AI to extend healing, education, and justice?
Technology is not in opposition to faith. It is a reflection of faith’s call to transform, uplift, and redeem the world.
Conclusion: Choosing Faith Over Fear
In closing, let us ask the skeptics and conspiracy theorists a simple question: If you or your loved one were diagnosed tomorrow with a deadly disease, and the only hope was an AI-generated cure, would you refuse it?
If AI can help prevent famine, save a newborn’s life, alert us to natural disasters, or bring education to a child in a refugee camp, should we not see it as a blessing rather than a curse?
Artificial Intelligence is not the enemy of God’s plan. It is a tool, like fire, language, or steel, that can either build or destroy. The difference lies in how we choose to use it.
Let us choose to use it with wisdom, ethics, faith, and a heart committed to building a better world. For in doing so, we are not rejecting God’s plan, but we are fulfilling it.
God gave dominion of all the Earth to Man.
N.B. Sonny Iroche is the CEO of GenAI Learning Concepts Ltd., a pioneer in Artificial Intelligence consulting and capacity building in Nigeria.
Iroche is a member of UNESCO’s Technical Working Group on AI Readiness Assessment Methodology.
He is also a member of the National AI Strategy Committee of Nigeria and a former Senior Academic Fellow at the University of Oxford.
Holds a Post Graduate Degree in Artificial Intelligence from the Saïd Business School. University of Oxford. Uk
